Illinois National Guard unit headed to Afghanistan

PEORIA (AP) — About 60 Illinois Army National Guard soldiers are getting ready to spend nine months in Afghanistan.

The National Guard said Wednesday that the members of 2nd Battalion of the 238th General Support Aviation unit based in Peoria will train at Fort Hood in Texas after a deployment ceremony Friday. They're scheduled to come home in December.

The National Guard unit flies CH-47 Chinook helicopters and will be part of air assault missions and other tasks such as re-supply operations while in Afghanistan.